A new study from the US Public Interest Research Group Education Fund (PIRG) suggests that Apple iPhones are the least repairable phones on the market. The report looked at how easy it is to fix usual issues like broken screens, battery replacements, and internal part replacements. PIRG’s study says that while the iPhones score high in performance and build quality, they still fall behind when it comes to repairability.
Apple makes the hardest phones to repair on the market
The PIRG study has graded major smartphone manufacturers across the globe via rankings from A to E. In the report, Apple took the last place with a dismal “D-” rating. PIRG combined the strict European Union’s (EU) European Product Registry for Energy Labeling (EPREL) report, apart from its own findings. The study checked if a company makes its spare parts easy to buy and if it offers easy repair manuals.
Furthermore, the study also considered how many steps it takes a non-technical iPhone user to swap a dead battery without needing any special tools. Apple took last place on PIRG’s ranking because it tightly controls its parts and makes easy repairs harder than they should be. The scorecard even penalized any brand fighting against the right to repair laws of consumers.
It’s worth mentioning that Apple has introduced many self-service programs for its iPhones in recent years. However, the process is still not simple for most users, which is why the study considers Apple iPhones the least repairable phones on the market.
Here’s how other major phone brands compare
PIRG’s report suggests that devices from some Android phone brands are easier to repair, though not by a large margin. The Korean tech giant Samsung did slightly better, landing in second-to-last place with a straight “D” rank. The study suggests that if you want an easy-to-fix phone, you should choose Motorola. The company has managed to top the list with a solid “B+” rank. The report has placed Google right in the middle with its Pixel lineup, managing to score a “C-” rank.
It’s worth adding that PIRG’s study also ranked laptops from major makers. Similar to the rating for phones, Apple landed at the bottom in this chart as well with a “C-” rating. ASUS took the first spot with a “B+” rating, followed by Acer with a “B”.
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